Giants' Parks Harber named ESPN's player to watch — 'Who?' is a fair question

Parks Harber's name popped up in a much more prominent place than even most diehard San Francisco Giants fans would expect.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez wrote a new article this week in which he chose one player from every team that he'll be keeping a close eye on this spring. It's a list that included stars, like Alex Bregman, and young MLB players, like Oneil Cruz.

It didn't include a lot of guys a long way away from the big leagues. Almost none, really.

Except for the Giants, where he chose Parks Harber.

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Who is Parks Harber?

That's not an unfair question. Harber is the least-known player on Gonzalez's entire list.

"You won't see this name pop up on many prospect lists, but some within the Giants really pushed to acquire Harber from the Yankees in last summer's Camilo Doval trade, then watched him slash .333/.454/.644 in High-A for what remained of that season," Gonzalez wrote.

Harber has played all over the diamond, but he's likely at least a year away, and maybe longer depending on what position the Giants really settle on with him.

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"Harber, originally an undrafted free agent out of the University of North Carolina, played at 23 years old, so he was mature for the level," Gonzalez writes. "But a lot of people in the Giants' player-development staff are excited about his makeup and potential, and this spring will mark the first time their most important decision-makers will see him in person. Harber, now 24, is primarily a corner infielder but also has some experience in the outfield."

It's rare these days that an undrafted player makes it to a long MLB career, but maybe Harber will be the exception.

Certainly after Gonzalez's pick here, everyone will be keeping a closer eye on him.

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